Shloka 10

Pratyakṣa–Āgama–Ācāra: Doubt, Proof, and the Practice of Dharma (प्रत्यक्ष–आगम–आचारविचारः)

Devanagari script

वीरासनरतैर्नित्यं स्थण्डिले शयनं तथा । शीततोयाग्नियोगश्न चर्तव्यो धर्मबुद्धिभि:

Transliteration

vīrāsanaratair nityaṃ sthaṇḍile śayanaṃ tathā | śītato-yāgni-yogaś ca kartavyo dharmabuddhibhiḥ ||

Translation

Mahādeva dijo: «Debe estar siempre entregado a la postura vīrāsana, y asimismo dormir sobre la tierra desnuda. Quienes tienen su entendimiento arraigado en el dharma deben también emprender la disciplina de “agua fría y fuego”: austeridades acordes a las estaciones, esto es, permanecer de noche en invierno sentado o de pie en agua fría, yacer a la intemperie durante las lluvias, y soportar los “cinco fuegos” en el calor del verano.»

Word by Word

• वीरासनरतैः: by those devoted to the hero-posture (vīrāsana)
• वीरासनरतैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीरासनरत
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्यम्

• स्थण्डिले: on the bare ground / earthen platform
• स्थण्डिले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थण्डिल
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• शयनम्: sleeping; bed/rest
• शयनम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शयन
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• तथा: and likewise
• तथा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• शीत: from cold
• शीत: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शीत
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• तोय: with water
• तोय: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• अग्नि: with fire
• अग्नि: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• योगः: practice; discipline
• योगः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• कर्तव्यः: to be done; should be practiced
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्तव्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धर्मबुद्धिभिः: by those whose understanding is in dharma
• धर्मबुद्धिभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मबुद्धि
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा

Speaker

श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Mahēśvara (Mahādeva/Śiva)
• vīrāsana (posture)
• sthaṇḍila (bare ground/earthen bed)
• śītato-yāgni-yoga (austerity discipline)
• pañcāgni (five fires, implied by the practice described)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches disciplined simplicity and seasonal austerity as a dharmic regimen: steady posture (vīrāsana), sleeping on bare ground, and practicing heat-and-cold endurance according to the seasons, cultivating self-mastery and detachment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śrī Mahēśvara is instructing about ascetic/forest-dweller conduct, prescribing concrete bodily disciplines and seasonal observances as part of righteous living and spiritual training.